Indicator for spinning-frames or other machines



2 Sheets-Sheet 1 (No Model.)

A. R. OLARKSON. INDICATOR FOR SPINNING FRAMES OR OTHER MACHINES.

Patented Mar. 10, 1891.

WITNESSES: 5C6@MW@ (No Model.)

. 2 Sheets-Sheet 2. A. R. CLARKSON. INDICATOR FOR SPINNING FRAMES OR- OTHER MAGHINES.

110. 448,123. Patented Mar. 10; 1891.

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WITNESSES.- $6@ 6 Nrrn STATES ALEXANDER R. CLARKSON, OF VILMINGTON, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO JOHN LEWIS VANSANT, OF HIGHLANDS, DELAlVARE- INDICATOR FOR SPINNING-FRAMES OR OTHER MACHINES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 448,123, dated March 10, 1891.

Application filed June 13, 1890. Serial No. 355,289. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Beit known that I, ALEXANDER R. CLARK- soN, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Vilmington, in the county of New Castle and State of Delaware, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Indicators for Spinning-Frames or other Ma= chines; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, which will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to improvements in indicators for spinning-frames and other machines, whereby visual signals are displayed when the machines are running and when stopped or at rest. In factories where large numbers of spinning-frames are employed it is very desirable that some means should be provided for indicating to the foreman or person in charge of the room when the machines are at work and when idle. Owing to carelessness of the workmen in leaving their inachines, it frequently happens that the yarn drops down, rendering it necessary to stop the machine in order to piece up. This consumes much valuable time, as it is impossible for the foreman to watch all the machines to see if the workmen are properly attending to their work. Again, when the bobbins are full and it is necessary to change and replace with empty ones, the operators are in the habit of stopping several frames at a time, which is unnecessary and a waste of time, which is very great in the aggregate.

The object of my invention is to provide simple, economical,-and effective means for displaying signals, which can be seen from all parts of the room, indicating when any particular machine is running and when it is stopped, thus enabling the foreman to ascertain if the workmen are paying proper attention to their machines.

The invention consists in the novel features of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter more fully described, and deft nitely pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 shows a side elevation of the frame or housing of a spinning-frame or other machine with my improvements applied thereto. Fig. 2 is a detail sectional View thereof. Fig. 3 is a detail sectional view.

As my improved indicator is operated by the shifting mechanism of the machine and is in nowise connected with or dependent upon the spinning devices, and as it may be applied to any machine irrespective of the character of the work performed, I have not deemed it necessary to illustrate the spinning machinery, it sufficing to state that it may be of any ordinary construction.

In the said drawings, the reference-numeral 1 designates the frame or housing of the machine. Secured to one side thereof by means of screw-bolt 2 is an inwardly-projecting bracket 3, having two downwardly-depending lugs 4, in Which is pivoted by means of pin 5 the elbow-lever 6, the long arm 7 of which depends downwardly and is. provided with an elongated slot 8. Secured to this arm '7 is a connection 9, having bifurcated arms 10, which embrace the lower end of arm 7, and through which and the slot 8 passes a screwbolt 12, provided with a binding-nut 13. The other end of the connection is provided with a hole or aperture to receive the end of the shifting-bar 14, which is screw-threaded to engage with corresponding screw-threads in said aperture. This bar lat passes through the housing and is provided with an upright bar 16, secured thereto by set-screw 17. At its upper end this bar carries a shifting stirrup 18, by which the driving-belt is shifted from the fast to the loose pulley, and vice versa, in stopping and starting the machine. These pulleys are mounted upon the driving-shaft which operates the spinning or other machinery.

The numeral 19 designates an upright tube, the lower end of which is secured in an aperture in the bracket 3. This tube may be a length of ordinary gas-pipe or other suitable material, and is provided at its upper end with an L-coupling 20, one end of which is 9 screwed onto the tube, while the other end is provided with two aligned transverse openings or holes 21, through which loosely passes a rod 22, capable of freely turning therein and carrying at its outer end the target or signal 23, which is securely affixed thereto, so as to move therewith. At the inner end of rod 22 is secured a bifurcated lug 24, the bifurcated ends of which embrace and are pivoted to the upper end of the vertical shaft 25, inclosed within tube 19 and having its lower end connected with the short arm 26 of elbow-lever 6.

The operation of the device will be readily understood. hen the shifting-bar is actuated to shift the driving-belt from the loose to the fast pulley to start the machine, the elbow-lever 6 will be vibrated, actuating the shaft 25, which in turn will revolve rod 22 and present the edge of the target 23 to view. If the workman for any reason should stop the machine, the movement of the shiftingbar will actuate the elbow-lever in a reverse direction, which in turn, through rod 25, log

or crank 24, and rod 22, will actuate the target 23,:causing the face thereof to be displayed to the view of the foreman, thus informing him of the stoppage of the machine.

It will be understood that the construction is such that all the targets of the various machines will occupy one position when themachines are running and a different position when they are stopped, and that the arrangement is such that each individual target can be readily seen from the place the foreman usually occupies. It ispreferred that the face of the target be displayed to the foremans view when the machine is not running and the edge thereof be turned toward him when the machine is at work.

Many modifications in the details of construction and location and arrangement of the parts may be made without departing from the principle of my invention,which consists, essentially, in an indicator actuated by theshifting-bar of a machine to display visual signals indicating whether the machine is running or at rest.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is 1. In a spinning-frame or other machine, the combination, with the shifting-bar thereing of a spinning-frame or other machine, of

an elbow-lever pivoted thereto, the shiftingbar connected with one arm of said lever, the shaft connected with the other end thereof, and a target or other signaling device connected with said shaft, substantially as described.

3. The combination, with the housing of a spinning-frame or other machine, of an elbowlever pivoted in abracket secured thereto, one arm of said lever provided with an elongated slot, a bifurcated connection connected with said arm by a pivot passing through said slot, a shifting-bar connected with the bifurcated connection, a vertical shaft connected with the other arm of the lever, an inclosing tube surrounding said shaft, and a target or other signal connected with the shaft, substantially as described.

4. The combination, with the housing of a spin ning-frame or other machine, of an elbowlever pivoted'in a bracket secured thereto, one arm of said lever provided with an elongated slot, a bifurcated connection secured to said arm, a shifting-bar connected with said bifurcated connection, provided with an upright bar carrying a shifting-stirrup, a vertical shaft connected with the other arm of the elbow-lever, a tube surrounding said shaft, provided with a coupling at its upperend, a rod j ournaled in said coupling-carrying atarget or other signal, and a crank connecting said rod and the vertical shaft, substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereunto affixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ALEXANDER'R. CLARKSON.

Witnesses:

HENRY O. MAHAFFY, PEIRoE GEROLD. 

